Float



R. M. BANKS ET AL FLOAT Grimm run .m 21, 1933 3 Sheets-She et 1 IINVENTORS REG/NAL M BAN/rs BY DOROTHVA fi/uwr ATTORNEYS R. M. BANK$ AL2,216,871

Original I'ilod July 21. 1938a 55 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS a m fiMm T DM A L M 0 3% R0 Y Oct. 8, 1940. R. M. B'ANKS El AL FLOAT .Qriginal FilodJuly 21. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SELl/AGE INVENTORS EEG/N440 MEAN/(s .00207710 14. BAN/(J.

@121, ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 PATENTOFFICE FLOAT Reginald M.Banks and Dorothy A.Banks,

1 Woodmere, N. Y.

Continuation of application Serial No. 220,456,

July 21, 1938. Serial No. 261,624

1 15 Claims.

Our invention relates to a float adapted particularly, although nottional purposes. 1 1,

The invention, in an important aspect, relates necessarily," forrecreato a float formed from one or more buoying means disposed within asuitable supporting casing.

The invention, in another importantaspect, relates to' theprovision ofbuoying' means and an associatable casing of such character thatthe 11parts may readily be assembled 'orfdisassembled by a simple operation. se 1 r U According to the preferred form of ourinvention the casingcomprises a plurality ofsubstantially circular or disc-like compartments,each adapted to houseaninfiated annular tube and arranged in seriesabutting along a common sec- .tor line of suflicientlength"to givesubstantially longitudinal rigidity to the'float when the tubes areinflated, the adjacent} compartmentsbeing separated by a. partitionalong said sector line and preferably stout enough to prevent theinflated'tube in eithercompartmentfrom substantially bulging thepartition across the normal sec tor line if 3 the, tubes in thecoinpartments should be unevenly inflated. I .The casing is preferablyof stout material such as cant 19.5.1 to give considerable rigidity to.the float when the tubes are inflated, and provisionismadeLfor insertionand removal of thetubes from their respective co partments andforadmitting and draining water into and gfrqm the 1 compartments sothat waterproofing material is unnecessary, thus giving the casinggreater life without undue ,expense 11 .1 uVarious other objects,advantages and features of our invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description. .1 Our invention; resides injthe float,surf -mattress, float casing, casing blank, constructions and featuresof the character hereinafter described and claimed. 1 1

.For an illustrationofsome of the many forms lour inventionmay take,reference is to be had "to the accompanying drawings, in .Whicht;

1 l Fig.11 is a plan viewshowing afloat as.constructedinaccordancewithyour invention; 1 1 Fig. 2 isan.elevational-viewofthe float shown inFig.1; 1 1 1 e 1 Fig.-3,is atransverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,taken ontheline 3,31 of Fig. -1 1ooking in the direction of the arrows; 1

ajfeature or the invention;

- and n1attr'esses have been used to some ex- This application March 13,1939,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, partlyin elevation,showing another feature of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the blanks from which are formed theenclosing casing of our novel float;

;Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another modification ofthe invention;

, Figs. 10 through 16' inclusive represent a more simplifiedmodificationof our invention.

Fig. 1D isa perspective view showing this modiflcation of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on the line H--ll ofFig. 10 looking in the directio n of the arrows. Fig. 12 is atransversevertical sectional view, partly in elevation and takenbn the line l2-l2of Fig'. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows. 1'

Fig. 13 is a transversevertical sectional view, partly in elevation,showing a modification of Fig;12. 1

Fig. 14"is a plan view of the blankwhich forms the upper side of thecasing for the float shown 1 in Fig. 10.

Fig. .15 is a plan View showing the blank from which the lowerside ofthe casing is formed. "Fig. 16is aplan' viewshowing' in detailthe mannerin which the blanks are stitched together to show the feature shown inFig. 11.

at. seashore resorts, it is customary for many batli ers to"ride, thesurf "or breakers and, to facilitate the enjoyment of this sport, surfboards tent. .However, the useof such boards is'objectionableincertain'respect's and the known mattresseshave certain objections,Therefore we have devised a, surf float? of thech aracte'r hereinaiterdescribed, While thepreferred use of the inventionis as stated above, itis to be under- .stood that th e invention is nothto be thus restricted.I 'Ihus, the herein described float may be used for various otherpurposes such, for ex- 5 ample; as a life-preserver, as a boat forchildren, I

as a rest station in a pool, as an-anchoredbuoy,

etc.

1 1 Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3,4, '1, 10, 11 ,12 and 13,the novel float of our invention is ,50 shown as comprising an outercasing or envelope A; formedapreferably from suitable flexible materialsuch,;for example, as rubber or, as herein illustrated, from canvas orother fabric.- Pref- 1 erably, the casingA defines two compartments 55separated by a transverse partition I formed in any suitable manner, forexample, as hereinafter described.

In accordance with one method, the casing A may be formed by suitablysecuring together two similarly shaped blanks a, a of the charactershown in Fig. '7. As clearly appears, each of these blanks comprisesgenerally circular, diaphragm like end sections 17, b merging into acentral neck section 0 along a common section line having. a lengthsomewhat less than the diameter of said end sections b, b.

In order to form the casing.A,1 each of the blanks a, a is folded alongthe neck section line 0 to obtain a configuration as .indicated at d inFig. 5. 'I'hereupon, these'folds are stitched or otherwise suitablysecured together, the stitch lines in the assembled construction beingindicated by the broken lines e, Figs. 3 and 5, and said stitch linesterminating short of the ends of the folds, Fig. 3. In this manner, eachblank a is formed with a folded section d which may be transverselydisposed with respect to the blank plane. When said blanks are assembledin symmetrical relation as described above, these two folds d aredisposed in facing relation, Fig. 5, and each fold d has securedthereto, in suitable manner, the fabric strip 3a of a slide fastener 3.In lieu of a slide fastener, it will be understood that any othersuitable means may be provided for readily opening and closing thispassage. 01', if desired,suitable means may be provided for permanentlysecuring the aforesaid folds d together so as to form the desiredtransverse wall I.-

After completion of the foregoing, the two blanks a, a are symmetricallydisposed and the margins thereof are stitchedv or otherwise permanentlysecured together in suitable manner. All of the circular margins of theblanks a, a are thus permanently secured together except in one area ofthe casing A where adjacent margins of the blanks a, a form a passageprovided with means for readily opening or closing the same, this meansbeing of any suitable character such, for example, as a slide fastener2. This marginal stitching extends closely adjacent the ends of theaforesaid stitch lines e and, therefore, the two blanks are maintainedin the desired casingforming configuration.

In accordance with our invention, each compartment of the casing A isadapted to receive a buoying means which may beof any suitablecharacter. As herein illustrated, such buoying means is exemplified asaconventional inner tube B of an automobile tire, each compartment ofsaid casing A receiving a single tube B. In order to position the tubesB in their respective casing compartments, the slide fasteners 2 and 3are operated to open the passage into the casing A and the passagethrough the partition I. Then, a tube B is placed in that compartment ofsaid casing A at the right, Fig. 1, and the slide fastener 3 is operatedto close the partition passage.

Finally, a tube B is placed in that compartment of said casing A at theleft, Fig. 1, and the slide fastener 2 is operated to close the passageinto the casing.

In accordance with the invention, each end section b of one of theblanks a is provided with a-passage f sufliciently large for thepassage,

therethrough of a human hand and a conduit 4 delivering airunderpressure through a nozzle '5 adapted to be applied to the valvestem '6 of the tube B, the passages f, preferably, being centrallylocated in the respective end sections 1). In this manner, each tube Bmay be inflated to suitable extent after having been inserted in thecasing A in non-inflated or partially inflated condition as describedabove.

Further in accordance with the invention, each end section b of bothblanks a, a is provided with a series of small passages .g. arranged,preferably, in generally circular rows and utilizable as hereafterdescribed. These passages g should be so located that, when the tubes Bare inflated, they are disposed closely adjacent the surfaces of therespective tubes B but are not sealed thereby, Fig. 4. Inasmuch as thepartition I is stout enough to cause adjacent surfaces of the two tubesB to conform to the sector line I and thus assume flattened portions asshown in Fig. 1, the adjacent passages g should take a correspondingconfiguration so as to avoid sealing thereof by the inflated tubes B. Itwill be understood that the above described passages f and g should besuitably bound or have the respectivegrummets or eyelets 1 associatedtherewithso as to avoid tearing of the casing material.

In view of the foregoing, it follows that the above describedcompartments for the respective tubes B are provided, preferably, with aplurality of passages as described. In addition, it may be desirable toeliminate other casing material from one or both sides of saidcompartments in order to save material, decrease weight, etc.

Although the hereinbefore described transverse partition I has beendisclosed as formed in a particular manner, it shall be understood thatthe invention is not to be so limited. Thus, for example, said partition1 maybe of any suitable along their respective fold-lines CC as willhereinafter be described in more detail, and such modified partition orbarrier need not be provided with an opening or passage through which atube is to be passed. Also the slide fastener opening 2 in the end ofcompartment A, Figs. 1 and 4, may be omitted. A construction of thistype is simple,

cheaper to construct and less apt to get out of order. With aconstruction of this character and as indicated in Figs. 8 and 10, itwill be understood that each compartment of the float casing should beprovided with asuitably located passage so that a tube B may be passedthereinto and withdrawn therefrom.

Referring particularly to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15, the modifiedcasing A mentioned above, in which the transverse partition I affords noaccess between the tube compartment, Figs. 11 and 12, will now bedescribed in more detail.

The casing A defines two compartments separated by a transversepartition I, and is formed by suitably securing together two similarlyshaped blanks a, a of the character shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Theseblanks are substantially of the same configuration as the blanks a, (1shown in Fig. 7 except the substantially circular end sections b, b donot merge together but are separated by a narrow rectangular shaped necksection C, the necessity for which will now be explained. Looking atFigs. 3 and 5 it will be seen that there is not sufficient material inthe blanks of Fig. 7 to allow their respective folds d to be directlystitched to one another, had it been so desired, but the fabricstrip 3aof the slidefastener 3 was employed tospan the gap between and fastenthe respective"folds-together to form terial for more extensive folds.It .is for this reason that the narrow strip of material C isleftbetween the two end sections b, b when cutting the blanks of Figs. 14and-15. i l I In order to form the casing partition I, each of theblanks a, a is folded along their respective line 0, 0, Figs. 14,.15.and16, which line runs through the middle of each central neck section C.The respective folds are then stitched securely along their respectivestitch line e, e Fig. 16, these stitch lines in the assembledconstruction being indicated bythe broken lines e, e, Figs. 11 andl2,said stitching being terminated short of the ends of the folds, Fig. 16.Theblanks are then symmetrically superimposed one on the other so thattheir respective folds are disposed in' facing" relationship, Fig. 11,and slightly overlapping. The

folds are then stitched to one anotheralong a line adjacent to and.parallel withltheir respective center line 0,0. I l Having thus formedthe transverse partition wall between the two tube compartments, thecorresponding circularendv sections 1). of the respective blanks aresecured together by stitching about their circumferential margins. Thismarginal stitching extends closely adjacent the end lines of theaforesaid stitch lines e, Fig. 11, maintaining the blanks in casingforming relation.

It'is preferable to have all seam selvages disposed on the inner surfaceof the casing. This may be done by stitching the corresponding endsections together while they are reversed, and after each is stitchedturning them right side out. In accordance with the present modificationa somewhat larger central opening f is provided in each compartment,Fig. 10, to allow not only for the inflation of'the tubes therethrough,but also for the insertion and removal of the deflated tubes therefrom.The casing-is also provided on both top and bottom with the heretoforedescribed drainage passages framed with the eyelets 1.

From a consideration of Figs. 1, 4 and 11 it will be observed that thetransverse partition! serves w to prevent undesired shifting movementofxthe partition or fold-defining stitch lines converge towards oneanother, a rounded-out V or wedgelike surface is presented, whichcenters the tubes and guides them into their desired relationship whilebeing inflated. I If desirable, the casing A may have a plurality offabric loops 8 suitably'attached thereto and, further, if desired, eachsideof said-:casing A may have the ends of a rope 9; or equivalent;attached thereto 'in suitable manner, as by the tabs Ill, Fig. 2.Theseloops 8 or ropes 9 may be grasped by hand when thefloat is to betransported from place to place. i It shall be understood, however, thatthe invention is not to be limited to the utilization of the loops 8 andropes 9'. i

In view of the foregoing description, it will be understood that thefloat, when disassembled, mayreadily be'tran'sported with the tubes Bnoninflated and with the casing A in rollor package formation.- Littlespace is required under these circumstances. When the float is to beused, the tubes lB are inserted as described. Thereafterthe tubes Bareinflated by air under pressure as ob.- k

tained from a'suitable source.

Assuming that the size of the casing A is properly proportioned to thediameter of the tubes B, the float, when thus assembled, appearssubstantially as shown on the drawings. That is, said tubes B maintainthe casing A under tension with slight, if any, free space thereinexcept that encompassed by the tubes B.

Inasmuch as the surfaces of the casing A spanning the tubes B are thusmaintained under tension and the connecting sector I of the two com.-partments is of suflicient width, it follows that the upper casingsurface of the float, when in the water, is maintained plane and tautand advan- 'tageously serves "as a quite rigid support for the batherrecumbent thereon without objectionable sag of the upper casing surface.

The float, when assembled in operative condition as described above,.weighs but a few pounds and may readily be carried from place to placeor into the surf. When used for surf-ridingxpurposes, it may easily bemounted by the bather and, while passing through-the surf, theresilience afforded by thetubes B is a factor rendering injury toanother bather unlikely in the event of a collision.

f Afterthe ride through the surf has been completed; the bather mayreadily elevate the float whereupon such water as remains trappedtherein will escape from the interior thereof bywayof the passages ,fand. As stated, substantially the only free space within the float isthat encompassed by the tubes B and, therefore, the provision of theaforesaid passages renders it possible to easily drain the float in asubstantially complete manner in but a few moments. When thus drained,the weight of the wet float is only slightly greater than when dry.

The invention, as hereinbefore specifically described, relates to theprovision'of a float comprising a single pair of tubes B. It shall beunderstood, however, that the invention is not to be thus-limited. Thus,for example, from a broad aspect, the float of our'invention may beformed by using a single tube B, either of the endless or non-endlesstype, and an associated casing A having a configuration correspondingtherewith.

Further, the float of our invention may comprise more than a single pairof thetubesB. Thus; as illustrated in Fig, 8, there may be providedamodifled casing Al which, by the provision of' two transversepartitions I, forms three compartments each of which is adapted toreceive a tube.

It will be understood that the casing or envelope of our novel float maybe constructed otherwise than as hereinbefore' described. Thus, asindicated in Fig. 9, the casing may advantageously be formed; ifdesired, from upper and lower blanksor sheets h, h, these being securedtogether by atransverse-peripheral casing section 2, all of these casingsections being stitched or otherwise secured together in any suitablemanner.

Under some circumstances, thehereinbefore described casings may beformed from suitable waterproof material such as rubber, treated canvas,etc. With such a construction, the above described passages f and g andthe openings 1, are omitted and the valve stems of the tubes B extendthrough suitable water-tight connections terminating exteriorly of thecasing.

With either a waterproof or non-waterproof float casing, it may bedesirable to pack suitable buoyant material, such as balsa Wood, cork orthe like in the space encompassed by the tubes B.

Further, under some circumstances, it may be desirable to support eachtube B by a suitable interior rim which is adapted to be detachablyassociated therewith in suitable manner.

a. While the invention has been described with respect to certainparticular.preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intendedtherefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications.

This is a continuation of our application for Letters Patent SerialNumber 220,456, filed July '21, 1938.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A float comprising a casing arranged to define a plurality ofchambers, and endless expansible tubes positioned in the respectivechambers, said casing comprising upper and lower sections spanning thespace across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated, maintaining saidupper and lower casing sections substantially taut and spaced asubstantial distance apart so as to define a plurality of chambersbounded in part by said tubes, said chambers having passages admitting aquantity of water, during use of the float, and for draining the waterfrom said chambers when the float is elevated from the water.

2. A float comprising a casing arranged to define a plurality ofchambers, and endless expansible tubes positioned in the respectivechambers, said casing comprising upper and lower sections spanningv thespace across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated, maintaining saidupper and lower casing sections substantially taut and spaced asubstantial distance apart so as to define av plurality of chambersbounded in part by said tubes, said chambers having passages admitting aquantity of water, during use of the float, and for draining the waterfrom said chambers when the float is elevated from the water, saidtubes, when inflated, imparting buoyancy to the float, said casing beingconstructed and arranged to prevent undesired shifting movement of saidtubes.

3. A float comprising a casing arranged to define a plurality ofchambers, and endless expansible tubes positioned in the respectivechambers, said casing comprising upper and lower sections spanning thespace across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated, maintaining saidupper and lower casing sections substantially taut and spaced asubstantial distance apart so as to define a plurality of chambersbounded in part by said tubes, said chambers having passages admitting aquantity of water, during use of the float, and for draining the waterfrom said chambers'when the float is elevated from the water, and atransverse partition barrier means between said chambers for preventingundesired shifting movement of said tubes.

4. A float comprising a casing arranged to define a plurality ofchambers, and endless expansible tubes positioned in the respectivechambers, said casing comprising upper and lower sections, spanning thespace across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated, maintaining saidupper and lower casing sections substantially taut and spaced asubstantial distance apart so as to define a plurality of chambersbounded in part by said tubes, and transverse partition barrier meansbetween said chambers for preventing undesired shifting movement of saidtubes.

5. A float comprising a casing having a passage giving access to theinterior thereof, means for readily opening or closing said passage, atransverse partition dividing said casing intoseparate annular tubeenveloping chambers and having'a passage therethrough, means for readilyopening or closing said second named passage, an endless expansible tubeadapted to be positioned in one of said chambers after both of saidpassages have been opened, and an endless expansible tube adapted to bepositioned in another of said chambers after said second named passagehas been closed, said casing comprising upper and lower sectionsspanning the space across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated,maintaining said upper and lower casing sections substantially taut andspaced a substantial distance apart so as to define a plurality ofchambers bounded in part by said tubes, said tubes, when inflated,imparting buoyancy to the float.

6. A float comprising a casing having a passage giving access to theinterior thereof, means for readily opening or closing said passage, atransverse partition dividing said casing into separate annular tubeenveloping chambers and having a passage therethrough, means for readilyopening or closing said second named passage, an endless expansible tubeadapted to be positioned in one of said chambers after both of saidpassages have been opened, and an endless expansible tube adapted to bepositioned in another of said chambers after said second named passagehas been closed, said casing comprising upper and lower sectionsspanning the space across said tubes, said tubes, when inflated,maintaining said upper and lower casing sections substantially taut andspaced a substantial distance apart so as to define a plurality ofchambers bounded in part by said tubes, said chambers having passagesadmitting a quantity of water, during use of the float, and for drainingthe water from said chambers when the float is elevated from the water.

7. A float comprising a casing having a passage giving access to theinterior thereof, means for readily opening or closing said passage, atransverse partition dividing said casing into separate chambers andhaving a passage therethrough, means for readily opening or closing saidsecond named passage, the opposite ends of said casing being ofgenerally circular configuration, and said partition being transverselyarranged with respect to the longitudinal casing axis, an endlessexpansible tube adapted to be positioned in one of said chambers afterboth of said passages have been opened, and an endless expansible tubeadapted to be positioned in another of said chambers after said secondnamed passage has been'closed, said tubes, when inflated, impartingbuoyancy to the float.

8. A float comprising a casing having a pasthe other, means formedinsaid casing for insage giving access to the interior thereof, means forreadily opening or closing said passage, a transverse partition dividingsaid casing into separate chambers and having a passage therethrough,means for readily opening or closing said second named passage, theopposite ends of said casing being of generally circular configuration,and said partition'being transversely arranged withv respect to thelongitudinal casing an endless expansible tube adapted to be positionedin one of said chambers after both of said passages have been opened,and an endless expansible tube adapted to be positioned in another ofsaid chambers after said second named passage has been closed, saidchambers having passages admitting a quantity of water, during use ofthe float, and draining the water from said chambers when the float iselevated.

9. A casing for a float of the character described, said casing beingformed from a pair of blanks: secured in casing-forming relation attheir edges and each end of said casing being of generally circularconfiguration, a transverse partition dividing said casing into separatechambers, said chambers each having a passage giving access to theinterior thereof for the-insertion of an annular shaped inflatable tube,said casing comprising upperand lower sections spanning the space acrosssaidtubes, said tubes, when inflated, maintaining said upper and lowercasing sections substantially taut and spaced a substantial distanceapart so as to define a plurality of chambers bounded in part by saidtubes.

10. In a float of the character described, a flexible casing and twoannular tubes: adapted to be enclosed therein, said tubes, wheninflated, lying inthe same plane and each being substantially tangent tothe other; saidcasing comprising upper and lower casing sectionsspanning the space across said inflated tubes and said upper and lowersections being held taut and substantially parallel to each other bysaid tubes, a plurality of passages through at least one of said casingsections for admitting water to the interior of the casing as ballastfor the float when in use, said passages being located adjacent thecircumferences of at least one of said sections and near the tubes toallow for complete drainage when the float is raised.

11. A float comprising a casing formed from flexible material, and twoannular shaped buoying means enclosed within said, casing; .said buoyingmeans both bein-gpositioned in a common plane and each substantiallytangent to serting or removing said buoying means.

12. A casing of flexible material for a float of the characterdescribed, said casing comprising a pair of blanks, each blank havingsubstantially the configuration of a figure 8 with a short central necksection disposed between two generally circular sections, each blanksecured together around its edges in casing-forming relation, therespective neck portions being joined together to form a transversepartition dividing said casing into separate chambers, eachadapted toenclose an annular inflatable tube.

13. A casing of flexible material for a float of the characterdescribed, said casing comprising a pair' of blanks, each blank havingsubstantially the configuration of a figure 8 with a short central necksection disposed between two generally circular sections, each blanksecured together around its: edges in casing-forming relation, therespective neck portions being joined together to form a transversepartition dividing said easing into separate chambers, each adapted toenclose an annular inflatable tube, a plurality of annular series ofdrainage elements in said casing. for draining water from said chambers,and means opening into each chamber through which a tube may be insertedand inflated. i

14. A casing for a float of the character described, said casingcomprising a pair of blanks, each blank secured to the other incasing-forming relationship at its edges, each of said blanks being ofgenerally circular configuration and a pair of blanks, each secured tothe other in casing-forming relationship at its edges, a transversepartition dividing said casing into two separate substantially circulartube-enclosing chambers, a plurality of annular series of drainageelements in said blanks for draining water from said chambers, and meansopening into each,

chamber through which the respective tubes may be inserted and inflated.

REGINALD M. BANKS.

DOROTHY A. BANKS.

